HBO's "Girls" :: I Get Ideas

**Spoiler Alert - For You DVR-watchers!**

The second episode of Golden Globe winning "Girls" finds our gals firmly entrenched in their new lives. Take Marnie (Allison Williams). Hopelessly looking for an Art Curator position, she interviews with a gallery owner (played wonderfully dead-pan by Lena Dunham's mother, Laurie Simmons) only to have her tell her that she "doesn't see her in the art world." Suddenly, Marnie has no idea what to do with her life. In five seconds her four years of college seems to have been wiped out leaving her numb as to what to do now, an oft-familiar moment for many a college graduate. Even more interesting is how common is what happens next. So often, we graduate college with lofty goals only to find ourselves working "lesser than" jobs because of our other "talents." Here, Marnie's talent is being pretty (something her friends actually enable) and the result is that she uses her looks to get a hosting job at a local restaurant. Talk about dreaming big. (Her revealing outfit brings on this little gem: "You look like a slutty Von Trapp child.")

Meanwhile, Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet) is content lying in bed with Ray (Alex Karpovsky) all day and Jessa (Jemima Kirke) is busy painting her new husband and getting dogs as presents. (I love that she randomly named one of the puppies "Hanukkah" on Hanna's suggestion.)

But the biggest drama of the week goes to Hannah, whose terrible fashion choice of the week is something called "shorteralls." First, she must deal with gay roomie Elijah (Andrew Rannells) who is dumped by his older boyfriend because he attempted (and failed) to have sex with Marnie. Elijah also isn't too thrilled with Hannah's new man Sandy (Donald Glover), a black Republican that he sees as a threat to his sexuality. Hannah, on the other hand, is confused not only by Sandy's political leanings, but also by the fact that the essay she gave him to peruse hasn't been read yet. This opens a discussion - then argument - about writing, politics, race, gender, and finally the realization that they aren't compatible. And as truthful as this roundabout (and oftentimes ridiculous) conversation was, there was a lot of truth lying underneath it all. And that is the key to "Girls" success.

Lastly, Adam (Adam Driver) shows up at Hannah's apartment (actually IN her apartment) pleading his case to win her back to which Hannah responds by calling 911. Harsh, for sure, but Hannah is so socially inept that this hardly comes as a surprise. At the same time, Adam isn't acting totally rationale so it makes one wonder what others would do in the same situation. This is why I love this show. It's relatable, but also a little "off." This allows for us to laugh at other's problems, while also pondering just how we would handle the same situations, then realizing that maybe their circumstances and ultimate reactions aren't totally off-base.